Medication Information

Common Medications

Antimanic Medications
Many of the drugs discussed in this section have been found to be efficacious in effecting mood regulation or stabilization, such as the benzodiazepines, carbamazepine, clozapine, the dopamine receptor antagonists, lithium, L-tryptophan, and valproate. Also included in this category are the calcium channel inhibitors or blockers, which are listed below. In addition, the lithium trade names associated with mood stabilization are listed below.

Side Effects
The most common adverse side effects associated with the calcium channel inhibitors are hypotension, bradycardia, and AV heart block. Other symptoms include constipation, nausea, dry mouth, gastric distress, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, fatigue, and, occasionally, hyperactivity, akathisia, and parkinsonism.

Generic Names
Some of the generic names follow (trade names in parenthesis)

• diltiazem (Cardizem)
• nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia)
• nimodipine (Nimotop)
• verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)
• lithium carbonate (Cibalith-S, Camcolt, Priadel, Liskonum, Phasal--these are not used in US)